The Indian Railways has awarded a Rs 817.74 crore wagon manufacturing contract to a joint venture of SAIL and RITES. These Bogie Open Wagons (BOXNHL) are aimed at transporting coal and iron ore. According to officials aware of the move, the tender for 2000 such wagons was awarded in the last week of April to SAIL-RITES Bengal Wagon Industry Private Ltd (SRBWIPL).
This is the first tender for wagon procurement awarded by the national transporter in the current financial year 2024-25.
In March 2024, Kolkata based Besco, Hindustan Engineering and Industries (HEI), Jupiter Wagons, and Titagarh Rail Systems were awarded the tender for suppling Bogie Open Wagon (BOSM) to the Indian Railways. HEI was awarded the order for supplying 4,500 wagons worth Rs 1924.88 crore in this tender. Titagarh Rail Systems came second with the order for 4,463 wagons worth Rs 1909.05 crore.
The interim budget has proposed earmarking Rs 41,086.09 crore towards purchasing rolling stock such as engines, wagons, and coaches in the fiscal 2024-25. Revised estimates for 2023-24 had pegged rolling stock capital expenditure at Rs 40,395.87 crore. Total capex for the Railways is budgeted at Rs 2.52 lakh crore for the current fiscal, up from 2.40 lakh crore in the fiscal 2023-24.
